Bangkok (VNA) – Localities with popular touristattractions in Thailand have taken measures to crack down on criminals tobetter ensure the safety of visitors and residents.
In Phuket province, police are coordinating withagencies including the provincial land transport and employment offices, andtourist police to crack down on international criminals on the island in a bidto ensure safety and improve confidence among the tourists and the public at large,said Phuket deputy governor Arnuparb Rodkhwan Yodrabam.
He said that local authorities adopted more crime-freemeasures last December. Accordingly, apartment or hotel owners are asked tomonitor their foreign tenants.
Phuket authorities also encourage provincialpolice officials to take strict action against foreigners who behaveinappropriately. Penalties range from issuing a “yellow warning” for a firstoffense to notifying the consulate and suspending a visa that allows theviolator to stay in Thailand. If the foreign violators continue to commitviolations, they will receive a "red warning", have their residencepermit in Thailand revoked, and be expelled from the country.
Deputy governor Yodrabam said that up to now, thestrong preventive measures have helped local authorities arrest severalforeigners who commit fraud and thefts on the island. The provincial policehave also fined foreign tourists for driving without a license, recklessdriving causing harm to others, and riding motorbikes without helmets.
In addition, the Phuket provincial administration is alsousing the Traffy Fondue application, which allows people to notify theauthorities about violations.
Aruparb said they have received three reports aboutlocal issues so far, and two of them have been solved./.